Nail-making machine



March 3, R933. R. F. KIEFER ET AL 1,795,217

NAIL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1928 5 sheets-sheaf 1 INVENTORs,

x \1 WITNESSES 6 March 3, 1931. R. F. KIEFER ET AL 1,795,217

NAIL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28.- 1 928 5 Sheets-Shed 2 J4 6. T li'4/5/i a.

"55555 INVENTORS: WIT

March 3, 1931.

R. F. KIEFER ETAL v NAIL MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 1928 March 3, 1931 R. F. KIEFER ET AL NAIL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 3, 1931. K|EFIER ET AL 1,795,217

NAIL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WlTNESSES INVENTORJ:

/ MW F. hid/M,

Patented Mar. 3,' 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

- RALPH F. KIEFER, or P1TTSBURGH,-AND JOHN :P. RITCHEY AND ROBERT J. FARRELL,

ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T STROWAN oonronA'rIo or I NEW YORK, N. Y.', A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE NAIL-MAKING MACHINE Application filed August 28, 1828; Serial No. 302,450.

The invention relates to nail making machinery, and especially to cut-off mechtip-forming operation.

An object of the mventionis to provide means separate from the tip-forming dies of tional power, and isquickly and easily ad justed to vary the cut-off position with respect a nail-making machine for cutting lengths of headed Wire fromthe nail stock in suitable coordination and synchronism with the other operations of the machine.

Still otherobjects are to provide nail severingmechanism of the type referred to whose action is simply and readily coordinated with that of the tip-forming dies, which is of simple and readily applied construction, simple in operation, efficient, requires no addito the length of wire remaining for the next heading operation.

The accompanying drawings represent an illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing theinvention applied to a three-die machine of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 237 ,423, filed December 3, 1927; F ig.2a transverse sectional elevation taken on line II.-II, Fig, .1, showing the dies and cut-off mechanism; Fig. 3 an elevational viewof the cut-off mechanism in position similar to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4): plan sectional view taken on line IV -IV, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a vertical section taken on line VV, Fig. 4;; Figs fi to 8 plan, side and end views of a forming die; Fig. 9 a view of a nail producedby the machine shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 10 to 12 plan, side and end views ot' a cut-off knife; Fig. 13 a, transverse secmechanism shown in Fig.13; Fig. 15 a plan tional elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified cut-0K mechanism; Fig. 14 an enlarged elevational view of the modified cut-off view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13 ;'and Fig. 16 a vertical .section' taken' on line XVI-XVI, Fig. 15.

Although not limited thereto, the invention is particularly applicable '-to nail-ma chines used for making blunt-pointed, truncated tips,-such as are illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1,466,676., issued September 4, 1926, to H. S. Stronach, et al. The tips of these nails are such that there has been difficulty in making forming dies which would themselves shape the tip properly and also sever the nail. Tosecure that result, themachine of theapplication above referred -to provides one of the formingdies with a cutoil' knife positioned to sever the wire as it is gripped by the dies. v

' That construction requires that one of the three dies used must be of special form. The

special die which carries the cut-off knife must-be made with considerable accuracy; The special dies, and the knives thereon re ferred to, are sometimes damaged, which delays production and increases costs. Furthermore, the cut-off knives must be accuratelyset in order to produce high quality nails, and they require frequent attention. The present invention improves on the said prior construction by-providing means independent of the forming dies intermediate the 'dles and heading block, which operate in coordination with the dies. to sever the nails when they areengaged' by the dies. This means preferably comprises a reciprocatingcutter actuated by one of the die-actuating means.

By way of illustration the invention is shown applied to the nail forming machine described and claimed in the said copending application, This machine comprlses a frame 1, Fig; 1, a transverse crank shaft 2 journalled for rotation therein, and threelongitudinal shafts 3, 4 and 5 journalled in suitable bearings. Shafts 3, 4 and .5 are parallel to one, another and are disposed preferably at 120 degree intervals about a common pomtJ Spiral pinions 6 and 7 mounted on shaft 2 mesh with gears 8 and 9 respectively carried by shafts 3 and 4. Shaft 5 is driven by means of a pinion 10 carried by shaft 3, an idler gear 11, and a gear 12 mounted on one end of shaft' 5.- .The gears are selected to drive the shafts 3, 4v and 5- at equal speed. The crankshaft-is driven by means of a fixed pulley 13. a

The machine is also provided with wire feed mechanism including a reciprocating feed rod 14 eccentrically connected at-- one end to the crankshaft and at the other to a feed lever 15 which actuates a wire'feed and straightening mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 16. The action of this feeding mechanism will be understood by,

nected to a connecting rod 21 which reciprocates a hammer 22in front of the heading block opening 23.

.Each of the shafts 3, 4 and 5 is provided with an eccentric 24 connected to a die-holder 25 which moves in a guide 26. Adjustably mounted in the forward end of each die holder 25 is a tip-forming die 27 The .ec-

centrics 24 may be adjusted axially along their shafts and the guides 26 correspondingly' adjusted along-t e supporting frame '1 to form different types'of nails. The lugs 26' or the guides 26 interfit in guideways on'the frame, as shown in Figure 2, to properly maintain the guides in adjusted position. The cut off mechanism, to-be-described hereafter, is also adjustable so as to be maintained in proper cooperative relation with the dies. The three dies 27 are identical and they are preferably shaped in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to form a blunt, three-faced ,ti '1 on the nail N, Fig. 9.. 'Like the shafts --w ich actuate'them, the die holders' an'cl dies are disposed at angles of 120- abouta common point, namely the axis of the wire-stock 17; Inasmuch as the shafts rotate at sub stantially equal speed, the tip-forming dies will be radially reciprocated in a common The nail-stock severing mechanism according' to the invention is mountedinde'pendently of the tip-forming dies, to be actuated in synchronism' with the operation thereof.

The embodiment illustrated in Fi s 2 to 5 comprises. a guide block having a ase and a vertical portion 29 provided witha dovetailed -groove30 in which a correspond, ingly shaped knife holder 31 may be recipro-f cated. A cut-off knife 32. is adjustably disportion28 supported on die block assembly '18 Fig. 4. It may be held in fixed position therein in any suitable manner, as for example by. a set screw 33. An enlarged- View of the knife is shown in Figs. 10 to 12. The cutting tip'is preferably formed by chamfering the end to form a blunted tip 48, seen in Fig. 11. v

It is preferable to permit the knife holder to moi e downwardly close to the-heading block, in order to permit the use of a relatively short knife. The thrust block 4915, to this end,- recessed at 34, this recess being dee enough to permit the ad ustment of gui e block 29 toward and away from the heading block, whereby to vary the length of wire which remains in front of the heading block after a nail has been severed to v be affected by the next heading operation. This adjustment may suitably be obtained by disposed in these slots and extend into the anvil block. The guide block may be clamped in anydesired position by lock nuts 37 In order to provide accurate ad ustment of the knife position, the base portion of the guide block is tapped from the rear and threaded to receive a screw 38, the rear end of which is provided with collars 39 which ride on each side of a supporting saddle 40.

The knife holder 31 and knife 32 may be reciprocated in any suitable manner, and this 'may be accomplished by pivotally connecting suitable manner. Theiension of the spring holds follower 42 on cam wheel 43. Cam wheel 43, as shown in Fig. 2, is substantially .circular except for a land 47 of'relatively small extent. So long as follower 42 rides on the circular part of the cam wheel, lever 41 remains stationary in its horizontal position and the knife is elevated. .VVhen land 47 meets the follower, the lever is rocked about .its fulcrum-support against the tension of the spring, the k'nife holder is lowered, and the knife is brought into contact with the wire.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assumingthe heading die to have gripped the wire, rotation of crank shaft 2 advances the connecting rod and hammer until the latter strikes the projecting end of the wire and {upsets it, toform the head of the nail. Duringthis time, rotation of shafts 3, 4 and 5 has moved the forming dies to their outermost po- A providing parallel slots 35 on each side of the guide block base 28. Guide bolts 36 are sition. The connecting rod now begins to retract the hammer, the heading die opens to release the wire, and theheaded wire is advanced to the proper nail'length'by the feeding mechanism. Simultaneously, the dieholders and forming dies 27 are'advanced at a uniform rate by shafts 3, 4 and 5, and as the hammer moves to its fully retracted position, they grip the wire.

During these operations, follower 42 has been moving over the circular part of cam wheel 43, Which is so disposed on its shaft that land 47 does not strike the follower until the dies grip the wire. Thus during all of the preceding interval, knife holder 31and knife 32 have remained stationary. When the dies grip the wire, however, land 47rocks'lever 41 and the knife is forced downwardly with a quick motion, severing the wire immediately adjacent the dies 27. The dies continue to move inwardly to squeeze the severed end and form the nail tip. When the follower leaves land 47, the spring returns lever 41 to its knife-elevating position. 1 The tip-forming dies 27 retreat, the heading block grips the wire, the hammer advances, and the cycle is repeated.

Figs. 13 to 16 show a modified form ofcut- 01f mechanism applied to the machine described in connection with the. preceding embodiment. In this form a cut-ofi' knife 32a is carried by a knife holder 50 reciprocable in a guide block having a body portion 51 and a base portion integral therewith comprising spaced arms 52 adjustably connected "inany suitable manner to heading blockassembly 18a. The cut-off knife and general disposition, of these parts are similar to those previ ously described. I

The body portion'of the guide block is provided with a dove-tailed guideway for the knife holder, which may be lined with brassslides 53, if desired. The lower knife-receiving portion of knife holder 50 is of the same shape as the guideway, and the knife is frictionally retained in a dovetail groove, as seen in Figs. 14 and 16. The upper portion of the knife holder is preferably formed as a cylindrical shaft 54 threaded to receive a nut 55. A coil spring 56 disposed over shaft 54 and seated between nut and a cover plate 57 connected to -the guide block, normally urges the knife holder and knife upwardly away from its wire-severing position.

As in the preceding embodiment, tip-forming dies 27a are reciprocated through eccentrics 24a by shafts 3a, 4a, and 5a rotatably mounted in bearings 58 carried by frame 1a, and the cutoff mechanism is actuated by a cam wheel 59 mounted on one of these shafts. The cam, wheel is circular except for a land 590.- In. the embodiment shown, this wheel is mounted on shaft 3a, part of the eccentric being broken awa for clarity of illustration. The up ger can 0 bearing 58 for this shaft is formed to provide an upwardly and inwardly extending bifurcated bracket 60, Figs. 13 and 15, and a cut-off lever 61 is'pivotally supported therein by a pin 62; A cam follower 68 is mounted in one end of this lever, to run on cam wheel 59. A threaded pin 64 in the other end of the lever bears against the free end of knife holder shaft 54. The mechanism is adjustable through nut 55 and pin 64 which is locked in any desired position'by a nut 66. y

The general operation of the machine embodying the modified cut-oif construction is similar to that previously described. Spring 56 normally holds knife'32axin retracted 'position, and follower 63 bearing on cam wheel nism to retracted position.

- In this form the knife is frictionally held in the knife-holder, andas it wears away it maytbemaintained at the proper length by a backing plate pushed in a'slot'65, Fig. 14, provided in the knife-holder.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a machine for making nails having a truncated triangular pyramid tip, its use is not limited thereto. It can be applied to other types of machines.

A. particular advantage of the invention is that through its use identical tip-forming dies may be used. This permits standardization and eliminates the expense. attendant upon the production of special knives. It

alsoeliminates the difficulties and disadvantages present in the use of a combined cutoff knife and forming die. Such dies are formed of expensive tool steel, and are usually made by skilled toolmakers. Their life is comparatively short, so any saving in cost knife forming the end of the truncated pyra'- "-mid, and mechanism associated with one of said die-actuating means actuating said knife in timed relation with said dies to sever the nail after engagement by the dies but before the tip has been fully formed, said dier and knife-being adustable longi tudinally of said heading block.-

2. A nail makingmachine, comprising in combination a frame, a heading block, means for supplying wire to said. block, parallel shafts mounted in spaced radial relation to the Wire for rotation 'in said frame, a reciprocatory tip-forming die carried by each of said shafts, a cut-off knife mounted for reciproc ation intermediate said dies and block, I a cam wheel mounted on one of said shafts, and rocker mechanism associated with said cam wheel and knife, said dies being synnism, wire feeding means, three shafts roe-actuating means said means comprismg apivotally mounted lever, a pin carried by one end of i said lever and bearing against the knife holder, a follower carried by theother end of said lever, and a cam wheel mounted on one of said shafts to run against said follower, said cam wheel rocking said lever to reciprocate the cut-ofl knife in'synchronism with the action of said dies.

a blunt, three-faced tip, the combination of a frame, a heading block and heading mechanism-,"wire-feeding means, three-shafts ronism iwire=feeding-meansfthree" parallel tatably mounted in said frame, three tipforming dies reciprocated one by each of said shafts and disposed symmetrically about the wire in'a common plane ahead of said block, and cut-off mechanism comprising a guide block, a knife-holder reeip'rocable therein, a knife carried by said holder, a lever connected to said holder and rockable about a I fixed point, and a cam wheel mounted'on one of said shafts and adapted to actuate said lever, said knife being adapted to sever the wire as soon as it is engaged bysaid dies.

4. A nail making machine according to'- claim ,3, said 'dies and said cut-off mechanism being adjustably mounted for varying the amount of wire left exposed in the heading block for asucceedingheading operation.

5. In a nail making machine, the combination with a headingblock, heading mechanism, a plurality of angularly-disposed rotatable shafts, positiyely reciprocatfijies I MA synchronously actuated one by each of 'said lmifeto cuftmg'position'in synchronism with shafts and adapted to engage wire passed through said block to form a tapered trunheading block, whereby to vary the length of 60 the several and untipped portion of the Wire a remaining for a subsequent heading opera tion.

6. In amachine for making nails having a blunt, three-faced tip, the combination ofva frame, a heading block and heading mechashafts rotatably mounted in said frame, three tip forming dies symmetrically disposed about the axis of said wire ahead of said headingblock and reciprocated in a common plane one by each of said shafts, wire cut-off mechanism independent of said dies comprising a guide block carriedby said heading block, a knife holder reciprocable therein,

a, cut-off knife removably mounted on said holder, a spring cooperating between said guide block and holder to urge saidknife away from said wire, and knife-actuating means, said means comprising a bracket formed on a bearing for one of said shafts, a lever pivotally. mounted in said bracket, a pin carried by one endiof said lever and bearing against said knife holder, a follower rotatably mounted in the other end of said lever, and a cam wheel. running against said follower 'mount ed on said shaft adjacent said bearing, said level being $29 5 lea ds uuio. IDQYL Zh the action of said dies.

8, In a nail making machine, the combination of head forming mechanism including gripping dies, means for feeding wire t0 said mechanism, a plurality of positively-reciprocated tip-forming dies disposed radially about the wire, a cut-off knife associated with said mechanism, and means synchronously actuating the heading mechanism, tip-forming dies and cut-ofi knife, the gripping dies being open when the wire is engaged by the tip-forming dies, and the. wire being severed immediately after it is engaged by the tipforming dies.

9. Ina nail making machine,- the combination of head -forming mechanism including grippingdies, means for feeding wire to said mechanism, a plurality of positively-recip-' rocated tip-forming dies disposed radia 85 I 7. In a machine for making nails having about the wire, a rotatable shaft actuating each of said dies, a cut-off knife disposed -between the heading mechanism and the tip forming dies, means associated with one of 5 said shafts operating said knife to sever the wire when engaged by the tip-forming dies, the heading mechanism, tip-formin dies and knife being synchronously actuate and the gripping dies being open during the tipm-forming operation. In testimony whereof, 'we hereunto sign our names.

RALPH F. K'IEFER- JOHN P. RITCHZEY. ROBERT J. FARRELL. 

